Who Gives A Fish Forums

I've been running a canister filter on my 75-gallon Discus tank for about six months now, and I'm noticing it's not flowing as strong as it used to. I do weekly 50% water changes, feed them a mix of flakes and frozen bloodworms twice a day, and keep the temp at 84°F. The filter media is a mix of sponges and ceramic rings. Should I be cleaning the media more often, or is there something else I'm missing?

How often are you rinsing the sponges? I've got a similar setup with a Fluval 407 on my 90-gallon, and I find that rinsing the sponges in tank water every two weeks keeps the flow steady. Also, check if the impeller's clogged with gunk. That's usually the culprit when my flow drops.

Yo, my dude, I had the same prob with my FX6. Turns out the intake tube was packed with gunk. Took it apart, cleaned it, and boom, flow's back to normal. Also, maybe cut back on the bloodworms, they're messy as heck.

Slybird wrote: ↑Wed Aug 13, 2025 6:34 am How often are you rinsing the sponges? I've got a similar setup with a Fluval 407 on my 90-gallon, and I find that rinsing the sponges in tank water every two weeks keeps the flow steady. Also, check if the impeller's clogged with gunk. That's usually the culprit when my flow drops.

Yep, impeller gunk is a common issue. I'd also suggest checking the tubing for buildup. I run a UV sterilizer in-line with my canister, and it helps keep the water clearer, which reduces filter workload.

Thanks for the tips, everyone. I'll check the impeller and intake tube tonight. I've been rinsing the sponges monthly, so maybe I'll bump that up to every two weeks like Slybird suggested.

Good call on the impeller, Falcro. Forgot to mention that. Also, jade, if you're using tap water for rinsing, switch to tank water. Chlorine can kill the beneficial bacteria on the media.

For real, tank water's the way to go. And if you're feeling fancy, grab a pre-filter sponge for the intake. Saves you from having to deep-clean the canister as often.

Falcro wrote: ↑Wed Aug 13, 2025 10:21 am For real, tank water's the way to go. And if you're feeling fancy, grab a pre-filter sponge for the intake. Saves you from having to deep-clean the canister as often.

Pre-filter sponges are a game-changer. I've been using one for years, and it cuts down on maintenance big time. Also, consider adding a wave maker if you're worried about dead spots. My Discus love the extra flow.